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By Laura Pinhey On the 1880 Federal Census record for my three-times great-grandfather there is a mark in the “Insane” column of the “Health” section. When I first saw the mark, I assumed it was a stray or a flaw in the microfilm. It seemed impossible to me that the census taker could have deliberately…

By Jayne McGarvey It can be a daunting prospect turning all those names, dates and facts into something that you and others will enjoy reading. Often the biggest hurdle is knowing where to start. There are several simple steps you can take to make the entire process much easier and less stressful. (Read last week’s post, “Who is…

By Lori Samuelson “Disappointment hurts more than pain” is an old American proverb which rings true for those of us who have spent time researching out ancestors. I find that genealogical disappointments lie on a spectrum. Burned court houses, gas explosions, tornadoes, and sewage leaks have all impacted finding the needed records I’ve sought. Accidents…

By Laura Pinhey Earlier this month I wrote on this blog about the U.S. Federal Census Schedule of Defective, Dependent, and Delinquent Classes, also known as the DDD. The DDD schedule supplemented the 1880 Federal Census with information about prisoners, orphans, physically ill or injured persons, disabled persons, homeless children, indigent persons, and the mentally…

By Jayne McGarvey You are researching your own family history – right! So why spend time reading up or researching genealogy for other families not connected to yours? There are several advantages of joining a One Name Study Group if one exists for the surname you are researching. The most obvious of course is the…

By Roccie Hill How often has each of us “accidentally” spent multiple hours researching various online sites, only to have zero firm results? How often have we packed the dogs and the kids off to family, made a day’s journey to a county or state office to find a document we are sure will be…

By Lori Samuelson Are you in need of new ways to climb over your genealogical brick wall? Scaffolding can be a beneficial tool to help you reach new heights. When you think of scaffolding, you probably visualize the movable structure workers use to safely access high areas. In the education world, scaffolding means breaking learning…

By Ericka Grizzard In recent years the use of genetic or DNA testing has become more prevalent as a resource in genealogy research, but often when I speak with other people about their experiences with DNA testing they seem disappointed in the lack of connections it provided or don’t know how to interpret the results.…

By Rachel Silverman We’ve all been there: A certain census reveals your family living in a particular city, then the next census finds them halfway across the state. Or continent. Now you’re thinking, How did that happen? Or–even worse–they are nowhere to be found in the next census. Now what? Between censuses, my most valuable…

By Jayne McGarvey Visiting the homeland of your ancestor can be extremely rewarding, and even more so if you wish to combine a holiday with some research and or meet living relatives. We love to have you here, to show you our beautiful island and connect with the descendants of those who left so long…

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